The award was designed to highlight projects that improve business while enhancing the goals of sustainability and resource reuse.

CRC is receiving the award for its Wastewater Improvement Project (WIP), which came amid an expansion of the refinery’s production capabilities. By incorporating leading-edge technology, CRC is now capable of reusing its wastewater for the purpose of steam production. The WIP reduces the refinery’s freshwater consumption by 28%.

“The CRC project is truly forward-thinking — the first refinery in North America with the capability to reuse 100% of its wastewater on site,” said Kevin Cassidy, Executive Vice President for SUEZ – Water Technologies & Solutions.

For the project, SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions was selected to design, build, and commission a five-stage water recycling system. At the refinery, treated effluent is now converted into steam used for heating processes, cooling towers, and to power equipment, decreasing the use of municipal water and reducing reliance on groundwater. The enhanced wastewater treatment facility also eliminates the release of volatile organic compounds and noxious odors in the plant’s wastewater ponds.

“Water is critical to our day-to-day operations at the refinery and is a vital resource for the Western Canadian economy,” said Scott Banda, CEO, Federated Co-operatives Ltd. “It is an honour to be recognised by SUEZ for our focus on responsible and sustainable business practices. The WIP represents our commitment to preserving precious water resources, while addressing our water needs in a sustainable way. This benefits our environment and our communities.”

The SUEZ Resource Revolution Award honors industrial projects that demonstrate exceptional financial and industrial benefits, while improving sustainability and increasing resource reuse. To be eligible for the award, recipients must have previously won either the SUEZ ‘Proof Not Promises’ award or the ‘Return on Environment’ award. The projects must also align with SUEZ’s larger goal of transforming the economy from a resource consumption to a resource reuse model.

In 2017, CRC’s WIP was named the Industrial Water Project of the Year by Global Water Intelligence.